diff --git a/scripts/update_version_files.py b/scripts/update_version_files.py
index d06e475341bcebb3a43df070bccd369522004cc5..6821623332356b7f7f2610261db79c7562909b1c 100755
--- a/scripts/update_version_files.py
+++ b/scripts/update_version_files.py
@@ -61,6 +61,9 @@ def usage():
 def _getstatusoutput(cmd):
     """Return Win32 (status, output) of executing cmd
 in a shell."""
+    if os.path.sep != "/":
+        # stupid #%#$$ windows
+        cmd = 'cmd.exe /c "'+cmd+'"'
     pipe = os.popen(cmd, 'r')
     text = pipe.read()
     sts = pipe.close()